Convertible Securities (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
4.25% Notes
Debt Instrument
Repurchase of convertible notes for cash, date	Mar. 15, 2012
Repurchase of Convertible Notes for cash, common stock, or combination, earliest date	Mar. 15, 2015
Repurchase of Convertible Notes for cash, common stock, or combination, latest date	Mar. 15, 2018
Repurchase of Convertible Notes for cash, common stock, or combination due to change of control events, date	Mar. 15, 2012
Redemption of Convertible Notes for cash, date	Mar. 15, 2012
4.75% Notes
Debt Instrument
Repurchase of Convertible Notes for cash, common stock, or combination, earliest date	Mar. 15, 2013
Repurchase of Convertible Notes for cash, common stock, or combination, latest date	Mar. 15, 2018
Repurchase of Convertible Notes for cash, common stock, or combination due to change of control events, date	Mar. 15, 2013
Redemption of Convertible Notes for cash, date	Mar. 15, 2013

The date on which we may redeem, at our option, our convertible notes for cash.

No definition available.

Name:	ipg_RedemptionOfConvertibleNotesForCashDate
Namespace Prefix:	ipg_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investors may require us to repurchase our convertible notes for cash, common stock, or a combination of cash and common stock, at our election, due to change of control events. This may occur prior to dates previously determined for repurchases.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ipg_RepurchaseOfConvertibleNotesForCashCommonStockOrCombinationDueToChangeOfControlEventsDate
Namespace Prefix:	ipg_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The earliest date on which holders of our convertible notes may require us to repurchase the convertible notes for cash, common stock, or a combination of cash and common stock, at our election.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ipg_RepurchaseOfConvertibleNotesForCashCommonStockOrCombinationEarliestDate
Namespace Prefix:	ipg_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The latest date on which holders of our convertible notes may require us to repurchase the convertible notes for cash, common stock, or a combination of cash and common stock, at or election.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ipg_RepurchaseOfConvertibleNotesForCashCommonStockOrCombinationLatestDate
Namespace Prefix:	ipg_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The date on which holders of our convertible notes may require us to repurchase the convertible notes for cash only.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ipg_RepurchaseOfConvertibleNotesForCashDate
Namespace Prefix:	ipg_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration